Digital rights management for end-user content

Abstract

Rights in unmarked end user provide content are protected by receiving a message comprising content, obtaining a unique identifier, and comparing the unique identifier to a database of known identifiers if a known unique identifier is found, the message is delivered, if allowed according to the distribution rights authorized by the content provider. If known unique identifier is found, the unique identifier is found, the unique identifier is stored in the content repository, and the message is delivered. Further forwarding of the contents is thus authorized only when indicated in the authorized distribution rights.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method of managing rights of end-user generated content, comprising: 
 receiving a message comprising unmarked content;    obtaining a unique identifier based on said unmarked content;    comparing said unique identifier with a database of known unique identifiers associated with available distribution rights;    when said unique identifier does not match any of said known unique identifiers stored in said database, 
 (i) storing said unique identifier in said database, and  
 (ii) delivering said message to a delivery address;  
   when said unique identifier does match one of said known unique identifiers in said database, 
 (i) retrieving said available distribution rights associated with said matched known unique identifier,  
 (ii) making a delivery rights determination, based on said available distribution rights, as to whether delivery is allowed, and  
 (iii) performing the delivery of said message, to a delivery address, in accordance with said distribution rights determination.  
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said known unique identifiers comprise one or more of an MD5 signature of said content, a CRC signature of said content, a low resolution image of said content, and a known unique watermark in said content.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising marking said content with a pre-determined watermark to identify that the content is marked.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using said retrieved distribution rights to generate a billing record for said unmarked content.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising reading a requester field in said message, indicating a level of desired distribution rights for said unmarked content.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said storing of said unique identifier in said database further comprises storing in said database said requested distribution rights in association with said unique identifier.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said requester field comprises a keyword located within said message.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said keyword is at a predetermined location in said message.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said predetermined location is chosen from the group consisting of a header field, a subject field, a beginning, and an end of said message.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising stripping said requester field from said message prior to delivering said message to said address.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said content is text messaging content.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said content is multimedia content.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said multimedia content is at least one of images, animated characters, video and sound.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said message is an e-mail message.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus, for restricted distribution of unmarked content generated by an end-user, comprising: 
 a content transfer system; and    a content repository connected with said content transfer system;    said content transfer system comprising: 
 signature obtaining functionality, for obtaining a unique identifier of content of a message;  
 comparison functionality, associated with said signature obtaining functionality, for comparing said unique identifier with a database of known unique identifiers stored in said content repository and associated with available distribution rights;  
 storing functionality, associated with said comparison functionality, for storing in said database a unique identifier not found in said database of known unique identifiers;  
 retrieving functionality, associated with said comparison functionality, for using a successful comparison result to retrieve distribution rights associated with a known unique identifier in said database;  
 examining functionality, associated with said retrieving functionality, for authorizing delivery of said message according to said retrieved distribution rights; and  
 delivery functionality, associated with said examining functionality, for carrying out or blocking delivery of said message in accordance with said distribution rights.  
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said known unique identifiers comprise one or more of an MD5 signature of said content, a CRC signature of said content, a low resolution image of said content, and a pre-determined watermark in said content.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said content transfer system further comprises marking functionality, associated with said storing functionality, for marking said content with a pre-determined watermark so as to identify that said content has distribution rights stored in said content repository.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said content transfer system further comprises generating functionality, associated with said examining functionality, for generating a billing record according to said distribution rights for said message.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said content transfer system further comprises reading functionality, associated with said obtaining functionality, for reading in said message a requester field indicating a level of desired distribution rights.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said storing functionality also stores said requested distribution rights in association with said unique identifier on said database.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said requester field comprises a keyword located in said message.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said reading-functionality is operable to read said keyword at a predetermined location in said message.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said predetermined location is chosen from the group consisting of the header, the subject, the beginning, and the end of said message.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said content transfer system further comprises stripping functionality for stripping said requester field from said message prior to delivery.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said content is text messaging content.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said content comprises images, animated characters, video, or sound.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said message is an e-mail message.  
     
     
         28 . An end user message sending client, for sending messages having content, comprising: 
 a user interface for allowing a user to define distribution rights for said content,    an embedder, associated with said user interface, for readably embedding within said message an indicator, of said user requested distribution rights.